Scindapsus altissimus Alderw.

Alderwerelt van Rosenburgh, C.R.W.K. van (1922) Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg Series 3 4: 346. Type: New Guinea: near Prauwen Bivak, Lam 1231, 16 Sept 1920; holo: L.

Vine stem diameters to 3 cm recorded.

Leaf blades narrowly ovate to oblong, about 30-60 x 19-30 cm, margins somewhat thickened and vein-like. Petioles about 28-42 cm long, winged (on young leaves) and channelled on the upper surface. Lateral veins very numerous and closely spaced.

Flowering spike about 25 cm long, spathe about 30 cm long borne on a peduncle about 9-10 cm long. Spathe almost yellow before being shed. Anthers about 2 mm long, staminal filaments about 2 mm long. Anthers acuminate at the apex +/- 2-lobed at the base. Basal part of the filament about as wide as the anther. Ovary about 6 mm long, ovule one. Stigma patelliform. Rhaphides numerous in the ovary wall.

Fruiting spikes about 18-25 x 2.5-3 cm. Individual fruits about 9-10 x 3-5 mm, +/- hexagonal at the apex. Upper part of the fruits green, the lower part soft, fleshy and red in colour. Seeds about 6 x 3-5 mm. Embryo very small, curved, about 0.3-0.5 mm long.

Features not available.

Occurs in CYP and the northern area of NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 150 m. Grows in well developed lowland rain forest and gallery forest. Also occurs in New Guinea and the Pacific islands.